Improvement in curtain-fixtures



EDWARD T. BFHGGS.

Improvement in Curtain Fix'tures.

No. 123,861. Paten'redrebl. 20,1872.'

UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD T. BRIGGS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

I IMPROVEMENT IN CURTAIN-FIXTURES.

Specication forming part of Leiters Patent N o. 123,861, dated February 20,1872.

SPECIFICATION.

I, EDWARD T. BRIGGs, of Boston, in th county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Ourtain-Fixtures, of which the following is a specication:

Figure l in the drawing is a central vertical section, and Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are parts in detail of my improved curtaiu-iixtures- The present invention relates to that class of curtain-xtures that have an automatic action. Its object is to obviate the objection caused in fixtures .of this description by the unwinding of the spring whenever the roller is removed from its supports, or when striking against any object. My improvement consists in so operating the mechanical devices connected with a curtain-roller that a firm tension is at all times given to a spring, so that the curtain-roller may be detached from its standards, or come in contact with other objects Without the trouble of rewinding the spring each time it is desirable to readj ust the roller.

a a a et and b b b b in the drawing represent a curtain-roller, of tin or other suitable material, formed in two parts, the part a a a a fitting into the part b b b b, so that the roller may be either lengthened or shortened, as desired. The ends of the part a a a a are formed with standards or sockets c c and d d, which form bearings for a spiral spring, e e e, that is connected with an axle or stem, fff, one end of which finds a bearing in'and is supported by the sockets c c. The other end of the axle f f j' passes through the socket l d, and is supported by a standard, g g, attached to the window-frame h h. The end of the tube or roller b b b is formed with a standard or socket, t, which receives and is held by a pinion, t, formed on a standard, 7c, fastened to the other side ofthe window-frame h h. Formed on one end of the axle j' ff is a disk, l, formed with two opposite wedge-shaped iianges, m and u. Attached to the outside of the socket cl d is a plate, o o, formed with a slot, p, in which plays a slotted bar, q, formed with a flange or catch, r. s is a groove, formed in the roller a a a b b b to hold the curtain.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The spring e e having been brought to the desired tension by revolving the axle f f j' it is firmly held by the catch i" bearing against the under side of one of the flanges m. The catch 1' playing loosely in the slot( when the curtain is drawn slowly downward, ips over the other flange, n, and as it revolves passes over the outside and falls under the flange m where it is again held; the operation being continued, the catch r is repeatedly withdrawn from and brought in contact with the flange fm, and the curtain is sustained at intervals, as desired. By operating the curtain quickly the rapid revolution of the roller a a a b b b causes the catch i" to be thrown out over the ilange m, and the roller is allowed to operate in the contrary direction, thus raising the curtain to the full height of the window. By retarding the revolution of the roller the catch r falls under the ilange lm., and the curtain is raised only to the required height. The catch r with its slotted frame q playing on the axle f f f is always brought to its position under the iiange m, wheth er the roller is attached to or detached from its bearing, or in whatsoever' position it may be placed, thus holding the spring always at its proper tension.

Having thus fully described my improvements, what I claim as my invention, and desire to have secured to me by Letters Patent, 1s-

The disk Z with anges m and n and plate o With slot 10, slotted bar q, and catch i", in combination with the several devices of an automatic curtain-roller, substantially as specied. 

